This summer commuters will be able to travel to Valletta from Sliema and the Three Cities aboard two brand new ferries operated by Marsamxetto Steamferry Services.

Two 19-metre ferries, which are currently under construction in the UK, will be delivered to the company owned by Captain Morgan Leisure Ltd and Bianchi and Co Ltd.

Exeter Maritime Services was commissioned to build the two 120-passenger low wash ferries for operations across the Grand Harbour and Marsamxetto Harbour in Malta.

The contract for the two ferries is valued at approximately €1.45 million

The first vessel will provide tourists and commuters a link between Sliema Ferries and Marsamxetto, while the second will link Lascaris Wharf with Senglea and Cospicua.

The vessels comply with the requirements of Transport Malta and were designed by Australian naval architect Adam Schwetz, who undertook the commission from the UK shipyard and worked in close cooperation with Marsamxetto Steamferry Services.

The ferries have very low wash characteristics, allowing them to make frequent trips across the two harbours with the minimum of disruption to other harbour uses and vessels moored in close proximity.

The introduction of the new €1.45 million ferries are expected to see an increase in the passengers travelling between the four localities, currently serviced by aging and inefficient vessels.

The ferries will have 96 seats in the main passenger lounge and 24 seats on the upper deck, with the possibility of adding a further 30 outdoor seats to increase the capacity to 150 should traffic volumes increase.

Jurgen Balzan joined MaltaToday in 2011, specialising in politics, foreig...